New Ulm weekly review., 1887-03-09
THE TALE OF A TELEGRAM.

retrace her steps up the avenue, when,
glancing round, she saw young man
emerging from the shadow OF one ofthe
great willows that guarded the gate.
As he pulled off his hat with low
bow, the sunlight brought out the
. FURNISHED black OF his close-cut hair,
and threw into stronger relief his
bronzed, handsome face, to which a.
slight scar on one cheek gave touch
OF the romantic and picturesque. So
thought Maud, after her brief, CON-
prehensiYe survey.
III beg your pardon" said the
stranger, tanning himself with his
straw hat as he spoke, "but can you
tell me if Mr.. Estabrook is here?
co." thought Maud, zone OF Toms
friends" Then, aloud, "Yes-that is,
he lives here, but he is not at home
to-day"
As the newcomer stood irresolute,
Maud gave him another quick look,
summed up his whole appearance.
from his six feet OF stature and the
light pedestrian garb that set it off to
the knapsack hanging over his broad
shoulders. Then she said hesitatingly:
"He may be back tonight, per-
haps. Won't you come up to the
house and rest? It is so warm! And
my mother will be glad to see any
friend of Tom's."
The young man returned her inuuir-
Ing glance as he answered, also with
some hesitation: '"Thanks. IL is
very warm, certainly. I should be
delighted TO pay my respects to Mrs.
Estabrook, if she will permit me-"
With that he put on his hat again;
and the two walked along together
under the blossoming acacia trees,
while he introduced himself as Mars
ton Folliott, just now pedestrianiz-
ing in that region. To which she re.
sponded with the information that
she was Toms sister,"
In this way they reached the house,
where Mrs. Estabrook was discovered
in the cool north parlor. She receiv-
ed her sons friend very Hospitality,
inYiting him to await Toms return,
which was expected by the next
morning at latest. -.
Mr.. Folliotte's manner was again
hesitating, as he half glanced toward
Maud. II really oug ght not to take
advantage he began.
But Mrs Estabrook, q nervous, ex-
citable woman, given to starts and
broken sentences, interrupted him.:
4'No, no! Pray don't say so.
Really it would relieve my
mind, now that my son is away; and
of course Peter must choose this very
time-Maud, Peter hasn't come back
yet! No, not a man on, the place, and
this is such a. solitary neighborhood!
Burglars and tramps would have US
quite at their mercy" ....
So the young man accepted the ur-
gent invitation, and the afternoon
wore away pleasantly, with music and
conversation, and strolllng about the
grounds.
1t was almost tea-time. The two
ladies with their guest were sitting on
the breezy piazza when telegram
messenger came up the steps. delivered
his yellow-covered missive, and was
off again like shot out Of sight.
'From Tom, probably" said Mrs
Estabrook. "Mr. Folliott, you will
excuse mel" -...
She broke open tine envelope, while
the conversation between the two
young people went on. But it was
suddenly interrupted by an inartic-
ulate sound from, Mrs. Estabrook,
and, looking around, they saw her
white and trembling. Maud ran to
her mother and put her arm around
her.
81 hope you have received no bad
news" began Mr. Folliott. But as
he advanced Mrs. Estabrook waved
him back with a poor attempt at a
smile
20, no, not bad at all-only little
"a little-unexpected." Then she
conveyed q silent summons to Maud 8
anxious eye, adding with the same
forced lightness: "If you will excuse
our leaving you alone for a moment,
Mr.. Folliott, have a. little house
hold matter to arrange with my
daughter. That is all indeed. 1t is
only for a moment-only moment I
assure you"
AS Chey Withdrew she sedulOusly re-
turned Mr.. Folliott's bow, all the
while preserving a set smile strangely
at variance with her pale face. But
no sooner had they entered the house
than it dropped away. as she turned
to her daughter and said, in hollow
whisper: sa.'
Maud, that maneis a, burglar!p'
Maud stared at this startling an
nouncement.
What man, mammal"
That man out there that Fol
lott, as he calls himself. He isn't a,
friend OF Toms. Just read this
from Amelia. =
Maud took the telegram, which was
from her married sister, living some
fifty miles distant. This was what it
contained.
Have just learned from nursemaid
.of suspicious stranger making her ac-
quaintance. Asking all about The